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Our goal is to keep you, your family, and your friends up to date on everything from finance to health care. We strive to help you make the most informed financial decisions to help you achieve financial success, so you can enjoy everything life has to offer. That's what our blog is for!

Financial Planning for Retirement: A Friendly Guide for People 50 and Older

National surveys keep finding the same thing: a lot of people are unsure if they’re on track for retirement. In recent Federal Reserve reports on household well‑being, only about one‑third of non‑retirees say their retirement savings are on track, even though most retirees say they’re doing at least “okay” financially. That gap between “I hope we’ll be okay” and “I know the numbers” is where a simple retirement plan can make a big difference.

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Health: The Most Underrated Investment You’ll Ever Make

If someone offered you an investment that improved your energy, lowered your stress, boosted your confidence, reduced future costs, and made your retirement years way more enjoyable… you’d at least hear them out, right? Good news: that investment exists. Bad news: it doesn’t come with a ticker symbol. It’s your health. Health is one of the most talked-about things in the world—and somehow still one of the most overlooked when it comes to long-term planning. We talk about eating better “someday.” Exercising more “after things slow down.” Managing stress “once life settles.” (Spoiler alert: life does not settle. It just changes outfits.)

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The Economy, Explained: What the Numbers Say, What the Headlines Miss, and Why It Matters to You

If the economy had a personality, it would be that one friend who texts “we need to talk” and then disappears. Suddenly everyone’s anxious, headlines get dramatic, and you’re wondering if buying eggs now qualifies as a long-term strategy. The truth is much calmer—and far more practical. The economy isn’t a mysterious force controlled by Wall Street or Washington alone.

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Who Wants To Work?

An important economic driver for America — working consumers — is dwindling. For example, the Denver International Airport recently hosted a concessions job fair to fill around 1,000 openings at the airport for jobs at stores, restaurants, and other businesses.

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Pets and Pet Insurance

One of the silver linings coming from the pandemic is that when pet shelters had to close temporarily during lockdowns, a call went out for foster homes so animals would continue receiving the necessary attention. Many of those pets were so loved that they were adopted rather than returned to shelters.

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Who’s Paying Higher Prices?

You may have noticed higher prices on the things you buy regularly, like groceries and gas. However, many consumers may not realize that economic factors such as backed-up supply chains, extreme weather events, labor shortages/higher wages, and higher demand are not currently reflected in many consumer prices.

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How to Evaluate a Stock

There are moments in history when people have claimed investment choices don’t matter because if the market is up across the board, you cannot fail. That is not true. In fact, that should never be guiding financial advice. However, there is no doubt that the market has been up for many years — notwithstanding the market correction in March 2020, early in the pandemic. For 2021, year to date, the S&P 500 has climbed more than 20%, double the historical average return of about 10%.

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Sustainably Investing in Our Future

While extreme weather events typically affect only certain parts of the country, there is increasing concern that climate change will affect the overall economy – including our investment portfolios. For this reason, the federal government is making composition changes to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the retirement plan for federal employees. The TSP currently holds more than $762 billion in assets, making it the world’s largest defined contribution plan.

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Th Top 10 Things to Consider When Preparing For Your Retirement Guide
Top 10 Actions When Preparing For Retirement

Planning for retirement income may seem like a daunting task, but can help you get a handle on preparing for your financial future.

Financial Planning for Retirement: A Friendly Guide for People 50 and Older

National surveys keep finding the same thing: a lot of people are unsure if they’re on track for retirement. In recent Federal Reserve reports on household well‑being, only about one‑third of non‑retirees say their retirement savings are on track, even though most retirees say they’re doing at least “okay” financially. That gap between “I hope we’ll be okay” and “I know the numbers” is where a simple retirement plan can make a big difference.

read more
The Business of Influencing

The Business of Influencing

For centuries there have been leaders in government, companies, churches, and local communities that influence people through their opinions. Then advertisers took advantage of this phenomenon to influence consumers with print advertisements and commercials.

read more
This is Your Brain on Technology

This is Your Brain on Technology

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that the company is rebranding as “Meta.” The initiative is designed to focus the company’s vision on virtual reality (VR) in the future, through what Zuckerberg refers to as the “metaverse.”

read more
U.S. Health Care in a Post-COVID Era

U.S. Health Care in a Post-COVID Era

As many workers returned to their offices this fall, employers took on much of the expense of paying for weekly COVID testing, as well as insurance coverage and paid leave for sick and quarantined workers. These extra expenses may well lead to higher insurance premiums for everyone.

read more
Who Wants To Work?

Who Wants To Work?

An important economic driver for America — working consumers — is dwindling. For example, the Denver International Airport recently hosted a concessions job fair to fill around 1,000 openings at the airport for jobs at stores, restaurants, and other businesses.

read more
Pets and Pet Insurance

Pets and Pet Insurance

One of the silver linings coming from the pandemic is that when pet shelters had to close temporarily during lockdowns, a call went out for foster homes so animals would continue receiving the necessary attention. Many of those pets were so loved that they were adopted rather than returned to shelters.

read more

Financial Planning for Retirement: A Friendly Guide for People 50 and Older

National surveys keep finding the same thing: a lot of people are unsure if they’re on track for retirement. In recent Federal Reserve reports on household well‑being, only about one‑third of non‑retirees say their retirement savings are on track, even though most retirees say they’re doing at least “okay” financially. That gap between “I hope we’ll be okay” and “I know the numbers” is where a simple retirement plan can make a big difference.

read more
The 2022 Economy: Reasons To Be Positive

The 2022 Economy: Reasons To Be Positive

Year-end brought a resurgence of COVID-19 panic, led by the onset of the omicron variant in the United States. Families and friends met in large gatherings during the holiday season, the weather got cooler — sending people indoors — and hospitals became overwhelmed with new coronavirus cases.

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The Business of Influencing

The Business of Influencing

For centuries there have been leaders in government, companies, churches, and local communities that influence people through their opinions. Then advertisers took advantage of this phenomenon to influence consumers with print advertisements and commercials.

read more
This is Your Brain on Technology

This is Your Brain on Technology

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that the company is rebranding as “Meta.” The initiative is designed to focus the company’s vision on virtual reality (VR) in the future, through what Zuckerberg refers to as the “metaverse.”

read more
U.S. Health Care in a Post-COVID Era

U.S. Health Care in a Post-COVID Era

As many workers returned to their offices this fall, employers took on much of the expense of paying for weekly COVID testing, as well as insurance coverage and paid leave for sick and quarantined workers. These extra expenses may well lead to higher insurance premiums for everyone.

read more
Who Wants To Work?

Who Wants To Work?

An important economic driver for America — working consumers — is dwindling. For example, the Denver International Airport recently hosted a concessions job fair to fill around 1,000 openings at the airport for jobs at stores, restaurants, and other businesses.

read more